Things To Do This Week - July 10-16, 2008

From garden parties to city planning, there's no shortage of events happening around the city this week. Here's our pick of the best for each day – if you can tear yourself away from the beach for long enough, they're well worth checking out.

1. Thursday, July 10 - California Dreamin' at Van Dusen Botanical Gardens

   Find a slice of paradise in the city, as VanDusen Botanical Garden's celebrates the culinary culture of California, featuring wines by Beringer Vineyards and Napa-sourced snacks by Peake of Catering. The event will be held in the beautiful Bentall Garden, with music pop/jazz three-piece Café Society. Tickets are $30, with funds raised going the to VanDusen Botanical Garden Association. Get more information by calling 604-257-8666 or visit. www.vandusengarden.org/

2. Friday, July 11 - Baseball: Canadians vs Indians at Nat Bailey

   Slip out of work early and pray for sun, as the Vancouver Canadians play a nooner game at the Nat against the Spokane Indians. Tickets for the game are just $12 including service charge. Take out a small mortgage for beer and hotdogs and you've got yourself a wonderful afternoon. First pitch is at noon, for more info and directions to Nat Bailey Stadium, visit http://www.canadiansbaseball.com/.

3. Saturday, July 12 - The Road To Zero Waste

   If the soaring cost of fossil fuels had caused you to think twice about this year's summer road trip, be sure not to miss this week's presentation by the Light House Sustainable Building Centre. Harvinder Gill of the Recycling Council of B.C., will discuss how to reduce the amount of material being sent to landfill during a renovation or new-home project – a challenge many of us will face while fixing up our homes instead of cruising down the coast at $1.52 a litre. Lecture goes from 2-4 pm at the Light House Sustainable Building Centre (1575 Johnston, Granville Island), with a suggested admission donation of $2-$5. Bike paths and transit to Granville Island are plentiful, so be a good sport and leave your car at home. Visit www.sustainablebuildingcentre.com/ for more info.

4. Sunday, July 13 - Sawan Mela 2008

   Celebrate the 6^th annual Sawan Mela cross-cultural festival, presented by the South Asian Family Association. Enjoy poetry, rangoli, mehndi, the culinary delights of India, arts & crafts, and more. Performances will also be offered from the Punjab Cultural Arts Centre, Sunam Sargam School of Dance, Footedge, Jawani Bhangra, Bombay Sapphire and headlining guest, Gippy Grewal, flying in from India just to sing for the attendees of Sawan. Admission is free to this festival, which takes place at the new Sunset Community Centre (6810 Main St). From noon – 8 pm.More information at www.safa.ca/

5. Monday, July 14 - Inventors & Gadgeteers Meet

   Don your thinking cap and head down to the Ariel Cafe (74 Kingsway) for this meeting of amateur inventors and hobbiyst gadget makers. Participants are invited to share ideas, devices, gadgets and generally geek out on the cool things they've made. Event starts at midnight. More information at informant@justice.com

6. Tuesday, July 15 - VANOC Game Plan 2008

   Together with municipal governments and transportation and security partners, the Vancouver Organizing Committee for the 2010 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games (VANOC) is hosting a series of informational seminars for the public, relating to how buildings and venues will be managaged during the games. This weeks seminar focuses on BC Place and General Motors Place, which will certainly play a major role in events hosting. The forum will be held at the Roundhouse Community Centre, from 7 pm – 9- pm .

7. Wednesday, July 16 - James Taylor

   Okay – we're gonna blow a million cool points here and admit it: we love James Taylor. He may not be the most rock and roll guy ever to strum a guitar, but we challenge you to listen to “October Road” or “Carolina in my Mind” and not fall a little in love. Taylor performs with his Band of Legends at GM Place. Tickets $45-$85 at www.ticketmaster.ca/